🐧 VirtualBox VM Lab – Ubuntu Linux Administration (22.04 LTS)

This project showcases the setup, configuration, and administration of an Ubuntu Linux virtual machine, built and documented using Oracle VirtualBox.

It forms part of my CompTIA A+ certification study, hands-on technical development, and preparation for an IT Support / Junior SysAdmin role.

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🌿 Project Overview

This lab simulates real-world IT Support and Linux System Administration tasks in a controlled virtual environment.
It covers:

• Operating system installation (Ubuntu Linux)
• User & group administration
• File system navigation & Linux directory structure
• Package management with APT
• File permissions & ownership (chmod, chown)
• Networking basics & commands
• Process management & logs
• Sudo/root privileges
• Troubleshooting & essential CLI tools

All work is fully documented with screenshots, organised into clearly structured sections.

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🖥️ Virtual Machine Created

Ubuntu Linux VM — Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

This project uses a clean Ubuntu 22.04 installation to practise essential Linux administration skills.
All tasks align with CompTIA A+, IT Support, and beginner Linux SysAdmin objectives.

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🧩 Lab Sections Completed

Section 1 – Installation & Setup

• Created VM in VirtualBox
• Attached ISO & installed Ubuntu
• Configured keyboard, timezone, disk partitioning
• Completed initial system setup
• Documented installation workflow

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Section 2 – User Management

• Created and managed users
• Created groups
• Added users to groups
• Reset password & managed account security
• Deleted users cleanly

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Section 3 – File System Navigation

• Used pwd, cd, ls
• Viewed system files (passwd, shadow)
• Navigated /etc, /var, /home
• Explored directories and verified paths

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Section 4 – Package Management (APT)

• Updated package sources (apt update)
• Installed packages (apt install)
• Removed packages (apt remove)
• Understood package repos & updates

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Section 5 – Networking Basics

• Checked IP address (ip a)
• Ping tests to local and external hosts
• Viewed routing table (route -n)
• Basic connectivity troubleshooting

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Section 6 – Permissions & Ownership

• Listed permissions
• Modified permissions using chmod
• Changed ownership with chown
• Understood rwx for files & directories

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Section 7 – Process & System Information

• Used top to view running processes
• Listed processes using ps aux
• Killed processes with kill
• Viewed log files with tail

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Section 8 – Sudo & Root Access

• Verified whoami & current privileges
• Attempted privileged commands
• Used sudo properly
• Explored root-access behaviours

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📁 Screenshots Folder Structure

Organised by section:

• Section_01_Installation_Setup/
• Section_02_User_Management/
• Section_03_File_System_Navigation/
• Section_04_Package_Management/
• Section_05_Networking/
• Section_06_Permissions_Ownership/
• Section_07_Process_SystemInformation/
• Section_08_Sudo_RootAccess/

Each folder contains:

• Step-by-step screenshots
• A .docx summary of each task
• A .keep file (for GitHub folder structure)

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🛠️ Tools & Technologies Used

Tool / Platform	Purpose
Oracle VirtualBox	Virtualisation platform for the Linux VM
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS	Operating system used for Linux administration practice
APT Package Manager	Installing & removing software
Linux CLI Tools	ps, ip, ping, chmod, chown, tail, kill, ls, cd, pwd
Snipping Tool / Screenshot Manager	Documentation & tracking
GitHub	Version control & project presentation

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🎯 Current Learning Focus

• Use Linux lab to practise real-world IT support tickets
• Continue studying for CompTIA A+ (Core 1 & Core 2)
• Build additional small labs (Windows & Linux)
• Strengthen troubleshooting & command-line skills
• Post progress updates to LinkedIn & GitHub regularly

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👤 Author

Created by Cameron Young

🔗 GitHub Profile
🔗 LinkedIn Profile